News
Competition: World Cup fever
As England, the only home nation to appear at the South Africa World Cup, prepares for kick-off, we are running an accumulator competition in association with Equity Red Star.
News: Regional broker growth continues across UK
Regional broker expansion has continued with Oxygen Insurance Brokers announcing the opening of an office in Bristol, Giles growing its Welsh head office and Henderson Insurance Brokers boosting its Manchester hub.
News: A series of broker buys fuels an increase in acquisition activity
The recent flurry of insurance market acquisitions has continued with a number of broker buys.
Results news: 'Admirable' performance as Towergate rates stay put
Towergate executive chairman, Peter Cullum, has claimed that the company has refused to follow the market's "kamikaze" approach to rates.
Results news: Allianz determined to do away with all loss-making business
Allianz chief executive, Andrew Torrance, has outlined plans to push through rate increases in commercial after admitting that the current level of return was "not terribly attractive".
Results news: Fortis to plough on with rebranding despite loss
Fortis UK has confirmed it will complete its rebrand to Ageas by the first quarter of 2011, after announcing a £1.8m loss during Q1 2010 (Q1 2009: £4m profit).
Another round of RBSI cutbacks points to gloomy NIG future
Broker-only insurer NIG could face further cuts following Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance's (RBSI) announcement that it is axing up to 2,000 roles across all of its brands over the coming year.
Health news: Medical database add-on gives brokers PMI edge
Brokers looking to stand out in the private medical insurance (PMI) arena can now offer an add-on product independently from insurers.
Health news: Launch of hybrid PMI products test traditional cash plan waters
Traditional private medical insurance (PMI) providers National Friendly and Bupa are set to challenge the cash plan market with the launch of hybrid products, following a surge in intermediated sales in the sector.
Quinn latest: 900 to lose jobs as CEO quits amid takeover rumours
In another tumultuous month for Quinn Insurance, 900 job losses were identified, chief executive, Colin Morgan, quit and the American insurer, Liberty Mutual, expressed an interest in acquiring the company.
News: Biba chief warns Con-Dem leaders of tax hike implications
The chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers' Association (Biba) has called on the new coalition Government to avoid taking the "easy option" of raising taxes to cut the deficit.
Biba news: 'Unbelievable change' afoot
Towergate chief executive, Peter Cullum, has predicted that the UK is set for two years of "unbelievable change" under the new coalition Government with the economy and regulation set to top the agenda.
Biba news: 'Black swans' are no longer 'freak' occurrences, cautions Willis boss
Willis chief executive and chairman, Joe Plumeri, has warned the broking industry that 'freak' occurrences are increasing in frequency and that the industry must adapt to this reality to survive.
News: Contribute to Insurance 360 to receive a free of charge respondents' report
Last summer, Insurance 360 - the sister industry insight unit of Insurance Age, Post and Professional Broking - carried out its first annual Business Insurers Insight Study.
Aviva to restore broker faith with price review and restructure
Aviva has taken steps to try to win back independent intermediaries by shuffling its regional management structure and vowing to improve its personal lines pricing model.
Back in discussion: CC pushes for point-of-sale PPI ban
The Competition Commission (CC) is to return to the issue of payment protection insurance (PPI) and is once again pushing for a point-of-sale ban.
Axa head condemns claims farming practice as 'immoral'
Axa's head of personal lines intermediary has slammed brokers that make money from the "immoral" practice of claims farming, warning that insurers would penalise those who were heavily involved.
PPI complaints take FOS caseload to new level
The number of Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) insurance disputes has increased by 38% largely due to a surge in complaints about payment protection insurance (PPI).
News: Quinn saga highlights 'chicken letter' risks
Brokers have been warned against relying too heavily on disclaimers to protect themselves from breaching their duty of care, in light of the recent Quinn scare.
News: QBE ambitions realised
QBE looks set to double the size of its commercial property book as it closes in on a deal that could see it snatch £40m worth of business from Axa, Insurance Age has learnt.
News: Time is ticking on UK Broker Awards deadline
The deadline is approaching to get your entries in for the 2010 UK Broker Awards, the only industry awards dedicated to the broking community. Entries have been coming in from all over the country and across the categories. Although the volume has been…
UK General completes claims outsourcing deal
UK General Insurance has streamlined its in-house claims processes after signing a new outsourcing agreement with Direct Group.
LMA elects chairman
Barnabas Hurst-Bannister, chairman of Travelers Syndicate Management, has been elected chairman of the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA).